Los Angeles Lakers: Predicting where each Lakers free agent signs

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 20: Talen Horton-Tucker #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers helps his teammates Montrezl Harrell #15 and Alex Caruso #4 during the third period of a game at Staples Center on March 20, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 20: Talen Horton-Tucker #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers helps his teammates Montrezl Harrell #15 and Alex Caruso #4 during the third period of a game at Staples Center on March 20, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Talen Horton-Tucker: Los Angeles Lakers

Talen Horton-Tucker is another player that the Los Angeles Lakers cannot afford to let walk away. He represents the lone promising young player on the team and he has serious potential to be a really good two-way rotation player on a title-winning team.

THT has already shown so many positive signs at 21 years old that it is impossible to not be excited about what he can be in the future. Unfortunately, if another team is as excited as Laker fans then the Lakers could be in trouble.

There is the possibility of a poison-pill offer sheet, and with the Lakers over the salary cap, the team would have to take the yearly cap hit, not the average. That is a problem as those contracts are inflated in the last two years, which would really restrict the Lakers in three and four years.

However, the team has already invested too much into him to let him walk. The Lakers did not trade for Kyle Lowry because THT was in the asking price, so letting him walk for free just a few months later does not make a lot of sense.

If he does get a big offer from another team that the Lakers cannot afford they could match it and use him in a sign-and-trade. That obviously is worse than simply signing him, but if they have to, it is better than letting him walk.

I still think he stays with the Los Angeles Lakers.